Hand doctor sentenced to 180 days in Harris County Jail

By Carol Christian

Updated 12:21 am, Saturday, March 9, 2013

Michael Brown gets escorted to a family law court in Houston on Tuesday. ( Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Staff

Michael Brown gets escorted to a family law court in Houston on...

The Browns, shown in 2009, were fixtures on the Houston social scene. Rachel Brown, Michael Brown's fourth wife, accused him of twisting her arm during a screaming, swearing confrontation in 2010. He was later acquitted of charges. With their children, the two starred in commercials for Brown's Hand Center.

Photo: Dave Rossman, For The Chronicle

The Browns, shown in 2009, were fixtures on the Houston social...

Michael Brown stands in the courtroom during a hearing Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, in Houston. Less than a month after being acquitted for domestic violence, the former hand surgeon fought a protective order that was agreed to in 2010. Brown was prohibited from communicating with his wife or their three children, according to the 2010 order. Arguments to lift the order were reset for a later date.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Michael Brown stands in the courtroom during a hearing Friday, Oct....

Rachel Brown has been linked to former Houston Astro Jeff Bagwell. The two attended a Texans game in 2011.

Former hand surgeon Michael Brown bows his head on the stand during a divorce trial with estranged wife Rachel Brown in the 309th Court of the Harris County Family Law Center Tuesday, May 15, 2012, in Houston. (Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle)
Photo: Cody Duty

Former hand surgeon Michael Brown bows his head on the stand during...

Michael Brown was found not guilty of assaulting his wife in September.
Photo: Melissa Phillip

Michael Brown, the embattled former hand surgeon whose legal problems have made headlines, was sentenced on Friday to 180 days in the Harris County Jail for violating orders imposed during divorce proceedings with his fourth wife.

State District Judge Sheri Y. Dean sentenced Brown after reading a litany of violations of a 2011 temporary injunction restricting his use of financial assets.

The judge will review the sentencing on March 26.

Among the violations the judge listed Friday were the purchase of a $6 million Miami Beach high-rise residence, the three-month rental of a separate unit in the same high rise for $14,000 a month and the procurement of a $3.57 million mortgage to buy another Miami property.

Other violations the judge ticked off included jewelry purchases of about $111,000 and $35,000 with an American Express credit card.

Under terms of the 2011 temporary injunction, Brown was not to spend money, transfer assets or incur debt beyond what was "reasonable" for daily living or business.

The order was imposed during his divorce proceedings against Rachel Brown, who is part-owner of the Brown Hand Center.

Robert Hoffman, one of Rachel Brown's attorneys, said after the hearing that Brown's jail sentence was just the beginning of a process.

"I think the court has been very patient with Dr. Brown, but this divorce case is far from over," Hoffman said. "There is much more to come. There is a vast estate that needs to be uncovered, discovered and properly divided between the parties."

Robert Hantman, Brown's personal attorney who said he was not the attorney of record on Friday's proceeding, was disappointed with the hearing outcome.

"It's just a tragedy that someone who built up a business for 25 years, has 400 employes (and is) a dedicated person who works hard and makes it possible for his family to live so well has to go through this type of situation," Hantman said.

Dean said she would consider whether Brown would have to pay attorney fees or the cost of incarceration.

Dean sentenced Brown to 180 days in jail for each of the dozens of violations, but the sentences are to run concurrently, limiting the total incarceration to fewer than six months.